League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
May 15, 2005
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts hopes this calendar will foster a better understanding of various cultures and encourage dialogue
and partnerships with other organizations. If there are events in your area or if you know of events elsewhere that we should publicize, please email
information to pcostello@lwvma.org
Date Time Subject Location Speaker/Comments/Phones
MAY IS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. See “Radio and TV” at end
5 – 18 6:30 p.m. The Director’s Tour Museum of Afro American History An exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum of
46 Joy Street Afro-American History. Join Executive Director Beverly
Boston Morgan-Welch and discover something new about
Black Beacon Hill in the early 19th century. Hear
intriguing stories of courage and entrepreneurship, and
gain an understanding of the inspiration behind the
Abiel Smith School and the African Meeting House.
Reservations required. 617-725-0022 ext. 21 or email
tgibbs@afroammuseum.org
5 – 21 1, 1:45 and Schmoozing with Sophie Tucker The Paul Revere House Meet vaudeville star Sophie Tucker as portrayed by
2:30 p.m. 19 North Square actress Linda Myer. Born in 1906, Sophie was one of
Boston’s North End thousands of Russian Jews who settled in the North
End in the early 1900s. Listen to Sophie’s compelling
true stories of growing up in the “Jewish Triangle” when
Yiddish was the language of the streets and kosher
butcher shops, street peddlers and synagogues
anchored a generation of immigrants in their new
homeland. www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org
For info, call 617-482-6439
5 – 21 4 – 8 p.m. The New Majority Meeting League of Women for Community Business meeting will be held between 4:00-6:00 pm
Service and buffet supper from 6:00-8:00 pm. The New Majority
558 Massachusetts Avenue is a coalition of organizations and individuals of color
Boston seeking to unite Boston's communities of color for
change and to turn their united aspirations into reality.
For info, call 617-422-0588; www.newmajority.org
5 – 21 8 p.m. Tak Toyoshima: Secret Asian Cambridge Center for Adult Tak Toyoshima gives a talk on his comic Secret Asian
Man Education Man which has gained national acclaim for its thoughtful
56 Brattle Street and often humorous reflections on Asian American
Harvard Square, Cambridge experience. Toyoshima plans to highlight several of his
more popular strips to foster what he hopes will be an
engaging discussion.
$ 5. To register, call 617-547-6789 X1 with credit card
info or visit: www.ccae.org
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6–4 9 a.m. – Southern NH Scottish Games & Oak Park This festival celebrates Scottish heritage with amateur
5:30 p.m. Celtic Music Festival Greenfield, NH athletic competitions; Highland dance; piping
competitions; sheepdog demonstrations, Historic
Highlanders, Scottish food; a children’s area; and pub
tent with local brews. Musicians include Glengarry
Bhoys, Charlie Zahm, Kip Ferguson and Clan Du
$8 in advance; $12 at door; children 12 and under free
603-924-6050 www.snhscotcelt.org
6–4 9:30 a.m. – Public Art in Roxbury with E. Dillaway Thomas House This tour will be treated to a unique sampling of
1:30 p.m. Barry Gaither, Executive Director 183 Roxbury Street Roxbury's striking public art. Start at Eternal Presence
of the Museum of the National Boston or arrange for pick-up at by John Wilson, stop at a charming cul-de-sac to visit
Center of Afro-American Artists Back Bay Station at 9:00 a.m. Family Circle by Fern Cunningham and then travel
through Roxbury to the South End. We will view murals
from the heyday of the African American mural
movement in the 1960's, sculpture of all types and
contemporary murals painted by the Boston Mural
Crew. Enjoy the gardens and flowers of Roxbury along
the way. Lunch at Bob the Chef's.
www.discoverroxbury.org
$29 includes lunch 781-861-8893 or 617-541-3900 x222
6 – 10 Noon – 1 Black and White Women’s Travel Museum of Afro American History Brown bag lunch with author Cheryl Fish examining the
p.m. 46 Joy Street 19th century travel literature and journey accounts
Boston produced by two black women, Nancy Prince and Mary
Seacole. In partnership with the Nantucket Athenaeum.
Info at www.afroammuseum.org
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6 – 12 Noon to 5 25 Boston Dragon Boat Festival Charles River 35 teams competing from U.S. and Canada. Various
entertainment from dragon dancing and Beijing Opera
to Odaiko Japanese drumming along with spectacularly
decorated boats.
Free www.bostondragonboat.org
7 – 14 6 p.m. Japanese Lantern Festival Forest Hills Cemetery Bring a flashlight for ceremony inspired by Buddhist
95 Forest Hills Avenue tradition and the Japanese Bon ceremony. Gather at
Boston, MA 6:00 to enjoy music and dance performances. At
sunset, hundreds of white lanterns lit by golden candles
float onto the surface of the lake and drift in the wind.
Their journey recalls the journey of the soul after death.
Admission is free with a $10 requested donation per
lantern. www.foresthillscemetery.com
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7 – 16 Noon – 3 Annual Freedom Day Culturefest Boston Common Bandstand Celebrate African American culture and history. Re-
p.m. enactors of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, live
music, and African dance and special Black Heritage
Trail® Tours. Meet Frederick Douglass and Harriet
Tubman courtesy of New African Company.
7 – 29 to Lowell Folk Festival Lowell Watch for more information or see the website
31 Free www.lowellfolkfestival.org
EXHIBITS:
Date Time Subject Location Speaker/Comments/Phones
On-going Yin Yu Tang – a permanent Peabody Essex Museum Adults $12, seniors $10, students $8, free to children 16
installation of a late Qing East India Square and under and Salem residents.
Dynasty merchant’s house Salem, MA Check www.pem.org for current exhibits 866-745-1876
To 6 – 2 Japanese Calligraphy & Sumi Gallery Nature and Temptation Japanese calligraphy & Sumi painting by Kaji Aso and
Painting Exhibition 40 St. Stephen Street students of the Kaji Aso Studio. Japan Festival:
Boston Sun/May 1, 2:00-7:00 pm. For program schedule or info,
call (617) 247-1719 or visit: www.kajiasostudio.com.
To 7 – 9 Mon - Sat Learning from the Past: Museum of Afro American History This new exhibit will chronicle the history of the first
10 a.m. – 4 Revisiting the Abiel Smith School 46 Joy Street building erected for the sole purpose of housing a public
p.m. (1835 – 1855) Boston school for African American children in America in 1835;
document the lives and accomplishments of its students,
their teachers and devoted parents; and showcase their
curriculum. Smith School graduates were at the forefront
of major civil rights efforts, became influential activists,
and were some of New England's most accomplished
authors, musicians, and successful business owners.
www.afroammuseum.org
To 10-15 9 – 5 Daily Adapting to America: Six Old State House Museum In cooperation with the Boston Center for Jewish
Synagogues and their Stories Corner State & Washington Streets Heritage. Explores the use the synagogues have been
Boston put to after their religious incarnations.
To 10-23 9 – 5 Daily Breaking the Silence Peabody Museum at Harvard Photographs of Native American delegates to the U.S.
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11 Divinity Avenue government in the mid 19 century. The exhibit explores
Cambridge what the delegates were trying to do, who they were,
and how these photographs, widely seen at the time,
shaped stereotypes of Native Americans as “noble
savages” or “vanishing race.” $7.50 adults, $6.00 senior
citizens/students with ID, $6.00 children (3-18 years
old). Free to children under 3. Free of charge to the
general public, Sunday 9 am to 12 pm and from 3:00 pm
to 5:00 pm on Wednesdays between September and
May. 617-496-1027, www.peabody.harvard.edu
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Radio and TV:
WGBH commemorates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with Telling Our Stories, a showcase of new programs, encore presentations, and
resources on television, radio and the web. Below are the programs on WGBH 2, WGBH 44 & WGBH radio 89.7 FM airing after May 15. For more info, go to:
wwww.wgbh.org/stories. Also check out the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month website www.naatanet.org/heritagemonth.
• Tue/May 17 on WGBH 2 - 10:00-11:00 pm: Time of Fear – In World War II, more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans were forced into relocation camps
across the United States. This film traces the lives of the 16,000 men, women and children who were sent to two camps in southwest Arkansas, one of the
poorest and most racially segregated places in America at that time.
• Mon/May 30 on WGBH 2 - 10:00-11:00 pm: An Untold Truth – This program traces the contributions of the 7,000 Filipino-American soldiers that fought in
World War II. Despite being denied U.S. citizenship, Filipinos rallied to join in the American war effort after the bombing on Pearl Harbor. Through archival
footage and interviews with these veterans, the film offers touching personal accounts and shows how these skilled troops proved indispensable in freeing
the Philippines from Japan and ultimately winning World War II.
5-8-05
The LWVM Diversity Advisory Committee seeks and welcomes new members.
If you are interested in joining us, please send an email to pcostello@lwvma.org
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